RELIEF AND RENEWAL. 1st Samuel 11. When the Lord’s people choose to live like the world, as close to the world as possible, and in a worldly way, they will soon find themselves controlled by the world. If we allow ourselves and self-interests to take the place of a Christ-centered life focused on the purposes of the kingdom of God, we will soon find ourselves the object of scorn. Christians are expected to be different in moral and spiritual ways instead of being as close as possible, like those who love the world and the things in the world.
The Israelites, who settled on the east side of Jordan because they liked it there and it was a good place to raise cattle, found that they were near to the enemy. The Ammonites knew they were easily susceptible to those who lived next to them because there was no separation between them. The Jordan River separated them from their brethren, not the enemy, which was God's original intention. Nahash, the leader of the Ammonites, knew Israel was still not organized under the leadership of King Saul. Nahash's name means “serpent” and certainly reminds us of the first time the devil used the serpent to make sin take control of humans.
The trail of doom and defeat is the broad way that leads to destruction. For the children of God to go as close to the world system as possible to please the sinful flesh is to give place to the devil. These three enemies want to bring defeat to any of God’s children they can. If that can be done, those who are “of the world” will want to remain just the way they are because they will see no difference between them and a child of God.
Nahash probably believed he could conquer the people of Jabesh Gilead without any opposition. The terms of surrender were higher than those of Jabesh Gilead, were willing to pay. The "right eye" of discernment would be removed, and they would depend on their enemy for guidance. Soldiers would not be able to see well enough with one eye to use a sword or bow and the shield. The Ammonites would rather have a quick surrender than have to lay a long siege against the city. The people of Jabesh didn't call on the Lord to deliver them when they were threatened and given an ultimatum. In desperation, they turned to the brethren from whom they were separated to come and deliver them.
To come to terms with that which is easily conformed to the world is to act on our own without the Lord. From time to time, we are asked to "cross-pollinate" with those who follow a more worldly view of "church truth." We need to be assured that what we do where we are has divine approval. Man's approval is not the criteria for coming together to "present a united front." When the people of God are divided because of self-interest, they are easy prey to those who pressure them to be like those around them. Those on "the other side of Jordan," the world side of the cross, look at things through earthly eyes.
Satan has tactics he has used that can affect God's people so quickly that they have lost the battle before they even realize they are in a war. However, if that doesn't work, our enemy will lay a long siege against the truth by sending some darts of doubt and unbelief that raise questions that can be taken more than one way. Or he will sow the seeds of discontent and discouragement and wait until it brings a harvest of division. It may be on the very ground of victories we won in the past that Satan will seek to defeat us again.
Whatever way you look at it, sin is a hard master. If we are unfaithful to our Lord and seek to conform to the world, we will lose to sin. The bondage of sin is strong, and freedom in Christ to walk with the Lord and not with the world is worth fighting a battle for. We must take our stand against sin. However, the people of Israel were so far away from God that they never turned to Him at all. Either they had forgotten the ways of God with them before, or they had no desire to submit to Him. So, they turned to the brethren on the other side of Jordan for deliverance.
The loud cries of fear in the voices of the people of Gibeah alerted Saul when he came from the fields that something serious was wrong. The first act of leadership in which he was engaged was motivated by anger. Israel's new human deliverer did not resort to prayer for guidance from God but, in anger, threatened the whole nation if they did not come to follow him. The bloody pieces of meat testified that they were now under his authority. The Holy Spirit used Saul’s anger to bring justice and freedom when Israel was threatened.
Anger is a powerful emotion. When directed against sin and the mistreatment of others, it is not wrong. We must be careful how we allow anger to be used, lest it use us. We may win victories through our own schemes simply because of God's mercy, but "without faith, it is impossible to please Him." God, in sovereign mercy and grace, may intervene and bring about a good result, but the bent of one's life will soon become obvious.
By divine sovereignty, the Holy Spirit gave direction even though Saul did not act in faith like the divinely chosen leaders of Israel before him. He had only external power and extreme anger with which to urge the people to follow him. Saul, a carnal man, acted in the flesh in contrast to prayer and faith. Yet, in grace, the Holy Spirit used him to lead and deliver God's people.
Saul became a hero to the people, “the man of the hour,” when he responded to the Holy Spirit who came upon him for the task of doing battle with the Ammonites. His threat to the Israelites with the pieces of meat and his huge army were impressive, and the defeat of the Ammonites was a great victory. Saul had the benefit of divine power working for him, but he did not have faith in God working through him.
Saul's intercession on behalf of those who had previously opposed him was commendable, but this soon was to be seen as an exception, not the rule of his nature. His plan of a three-sided attack at dawn succeeded, and that victory established his kingship in the minds of the people. Saul at least acknowledged the fact that the Lord had given the victory. Saul had been anointed at Ramah and had been publicly chosen at Mizpah. When he led the defeat of the Ammonites, his kingship was confirmed.
Saul passed the first test of his leadership, and the Israelites were convinced that he was their man, their leader, and the one who would conquer their enemies. Their doubts as to his ability to be their king were gone, and he joined Samuel at Gilgal, where victory in Israel had first started generations earlier. The peace offerings were sacrificed, and the men of Israel joined Saul and Samuel on this brightest of all days during Saul's reign.
The Israelites offered sacrifices after the victory, but this attitude did not last. At Gilgal, the first place Israel stopped when they entered the promised land, was an appropriate place for them to gather to recognize Saul as "king before the Lord." The three places where he was chosen each have a certain significance, but it was at Gilgal (a rolling away) where humans will be bowed to the will of God. Peace offerings were sacrificed there "before the Lord," and the joy of fellowship became real.
330,000 men made an intimidating army and established a reputation under Saul's leadership. Of that, there was no question. The danger was that they could have rested in their own perceived strength if it wasn't for Samuel, the man of God, calling the people to remember that it was the Lord's doing that brought victory. Saul acknowledged the Lord as the One who had given the victory, and Samuel did not want that attitude to fade away from the minds of the people or from Saul's mind. To "renew the kingdom" was to give a new start to those who had forgotten from where they had come.
It is important for us all to remember Calvary and all that happened there. It was there that our sin was judged. There, the reproach of the world is removed, and God's people gather with Him, who redeemed and saved us. "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." [Gal.6:14]
Why were those men willing to come from every place in the land of Israel? Who had the power to put fear in each of those men going to where they met with Saul? He was only a man, but God was with him, and the Spirit of God was upon him. For the first time, Israel gathered, and Saul became king in deed and word. The threat that accompanied the piece of meat likely helped make up their minds.
Sometimes, we feel desperate because we have nowhere to turn and wonder if our call for help will be answered or rejected. If it is to men only, we turn for needed help; we will find no real deliverance or fulfillment of our needs. God uses others to help meet our needs when we call Him. He will heed our voice; someone He has sent will fill the gap, preserving us from some greater misfortune.
If our eyes are only on men to help us, we miss the whole point that God wants to bless His people who trust Him. He alone is the One who brings our salvation and deliverance. Men are not able to produce victory over sin. Sin is too strong, and often, we allow it to influence us to do what we know is wrong or even half-right. They cannot win over the strong forces that are arrayed in a spiritual battle when evil foes attack. But God is able to bring peace because He defeated sin, the devil, and death when He won the battle at Calvary.